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Spill Guts Here. It's gotta go somewhere, know what I mean? Can you stand it?
purls before swine
Geek Knitting
West Indian Parade
West Indian Parade
Dog/Cat Wrestling
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10.31.2002
Been working on 5G shoulder awnings, open shoulder, long sleeve sweaters and wraps with a different colored crocheted edge in lambswool, merino and cashmere yarn mixes. It's finally getting cold! I'm very into dark purples, magentas and rosy colors now.
I think I've found a house servant that will clean and organize for me, so I can focus on designing! Very excited about this. It's been my dream for a long time. We're meeting next week to discuss the particulars, and draw up a contract. An unusual situation, to be sure, but there are times when it totally pays off to be a female. Those are few and far between normally, and I think you should take advantage when you can. I may never have to do the dishes ever again! The shop smells like chocolate today, in anticipation of the ghouls, punks and other rowdies who will come a-beggin later. In this neighborhood, there are even some shameless parents who have a bag for candy. I was so taken aback by this last year, I gave them some. This year, the grown-ups aren't getting any. They can go buy their own. Packing up the hats from the show, they will sent back probably next Monday or Tuesday, whenever I can haul the "grannie cart" full of them to the post office. Prizes will start to be sent out next week! Thank you to everyone who made the show a success. 10.28.2002
Today, I'm literally going through my apartment with a large garbage bag. I've decided to clear out, and simplify my stupidly complicated life with less "stuff". It's been out of control for a few months now, not helped by the fact that Mr. Murphy and Kitten have mindmelded. In the picture below, you can see him mentally instructing her on which objects are most desirable to push off tables and shelves for his chewing pleasure. Last night, he got my "Devil's Claw" lipstick, the expensive stuff I treated myself to at "Jeffrey" the Uber expensive boutique in the meatpacking district. Damn it!
 So far I've lost 8 pens, 3pencils, 10 balls of yarn, 4 lipsticks, 2 barrettes, 2 packages of japanese candy, 1 watch band, 1 brush, 1 comb, mail, 3.5 socks, 2 pieces of snakeskin, 6 new sewing threads, #13 circular needle, 2 #7 casien double pointeds. It's the lipsticks and pens that really hurt. Good thing I have mostly inexpensive rugs. Anyone interested in buying a pristine Passap DM80 (green one) with stitch patterning attachment, lace carriage and stand, email me, stacey@redlipstick.net. I have to face the fact that I'm never going to have either the room or time to work on this thing, and I want it out of here! I want the floorspace! I'm taking the best offer. The only downside is that you have to come to Brooklyn and pick it up. I can't even lift it, much less get it to a shipping place. Has original instructions, etc. 10.26.2002
The Hat Show People's Choice voting has been closed. Thank you to everyone who voted ONCE. A verticle middle finger to everyone who cheated. The winner will be announced shortly. She will receive "Knitting Without Tears" and the "Knitters Almanac", both lovely books by Elizabeth Zimmerman.
I love to poke through my web stats. Been especially interesting this month. Found this article from the referers log on Knitting for Pets at BellaOnline. 10.25.2002
A few pics of the Hat Show opening have been posted.
10.24.2002
Ok, now ballot stuffing is occurring for a few others. You know, it's really not cool to vote 3 or 4 times for your friend. I've learned a valuable lesson about trust. Forget it! Next year, you guys get cookies. What this means is that every household will only get one vote as opposed to every person. I should have listened to Liz. Another naive notion dismantled.
Had visits from Tillie(of the beer can hat persuasion) and her man Bowman today, as well as Edie, who designed the Child's Red Convertible Cap. Got pix! Yes, I'll post them when I can. We should have pix of the reception online before tommorrow.
Ballot stuffing is still occurring, only for one hat, the same one. Suffice it to say we will be removing the excess illegal votes at the end of the contest. What a misguided asshole. There's one in every bunch.
Agony Aunties? How about Agony Grannies? Great stuff!
Had a nice dinner last night with Katy, who's beautifully designed handbags the shop carries, and Hannah, who recently returned from Africa, where she was in the Peace Corps. She mentioned this site: Idealist.org, and I thought I'd pop it up here for those of you interested in pursuing altruistic work. Myself, I can't live without hot water and strong coffee. The discussion started because I have another friend, Keri, who's leaving shortly to join the Peace Corps in Niger. The subject line of Keri's email telling everyone about her impending departure was "Bon Voyage Niger", and I had to do a double take. ;-> Best of luck to you, Keri!!
Still on mental knitting hiatus, although I now going to force myself to sit at the machine, and at least jumpstart the thinking process by knitting a few scarves. The Hat Show is up all week, and we had a fair number of visitors yesterday, everyone loves the selection. It's of extreme interest to me, in terms of shopping psychology, to hear the opinions and feedback. Fascinating. There is a hat for everyone. There is no consistent favorite, and there is no hat that everyone uniformly dislikes. Positive attributes have been pointed out to me that I didn't notice. This was a really worthwhile project on many levels, and I thank all the participants one more time for this opportunity! 10.22.2002
One of the first sites I ever bookmarked, about 7 years ago: Redmeat. The archives are excellent. Inspired by Carolyn's sweet Moonmilk confession.
I swear, men are dense. Just dense, their behavior ruled by that tiny brain, not the big one on top. SO boring. Did you ever wish you were gay just so you wouldn't have to deal with it? So you could have a wife who did all the tasks so you could focus on work? *sigh* Have been in zombie mode, last night they repaved the street in front of my apt. from 11 pm to 3 FREAKIN AM. WIth huge lights so they could see what was going on, and the powerful stench of melted asphaltand jumbo machinery. I'm cranky and tired today. Not knitting, but putting things together that I've already done, and didn't have time to finish. Cat Hat, White huge Cardigan with hk shawl collar and pockets, both for the shop. Enough personal hooie.
Peoples Choice Voting Tally Page is fixed, reflecting the correct amount of legal votes. Thank you Liz Maryland! I've calmed down about the "stuffing" mishap, but it's extremely important to be fair, and I won't tolerate any funny business. BTW, if you voted, and want to see what the tally is, here's the link.
Yesterday was my "day off", and I went to get pale pink chiffon for shop curtains, and a cream linen weave cotton for tablecloths, also for the shop. On the way back, I decided to try a wholesale leather place in an industrial building near me, which seems to always be closed, it was open! The place is run by an elderly woman named Ann, and I actually ended up spending close to 4 hours there, just the 2 of us, listening to her story, learning about different leathers and how her industry used to be, and fashion cycles in general. I rarely get the chance to spend that much time speaking with someone, especially lately, and I felt reconnected to life, even though her story is sad. I kept having to remind myself that I didn't have to run out to the next errand. I ended up buying a pile of snakeskin pieces originally meant for cowboy boots (for applique), 1 tan and 1 khaki suede pigskin, 2 black goatskins, and a huge burgundy/brown cowskin stamped in a subtle woodgrain pattern. 1 roll (about 50 yards) of black leather cut into a 1.5" strip for straps and a karakul lambskin for the pets to sleep on (claaaaassssy!). What the hell am I going to use all this leather for? I just tested it on my sewing machine, and I'm having tension problems, I can see this is going to be an ordeal. Why didn't I just buy more yarn? I do want to get some of the real patent leather for belts and mini-corsets, it was exquisite, but I have to figure out how to sew this stuff properly before I will allow myself buy more. If anyone uses leather, contact me, and I'll give you her info, her prices are really, really good. The warehouse is here in Brooklyn, but I know she does phone orders, too. 10.21.2002
Peoples Choice Voting Tally Page is broken right now. I'm extremely pissed off. Someone tried to "stuff the ballot box", and I broke the script trying to correct the tally. FYI, we can tell if the same person votes over and over.
Liz will fix it as soon as she's able with the correct count. We originally decided not to set cookies, because we felt the online knitting community is a trustworthy one. I'm not saying which hat it is, but if it happens again with that same hat, I'm removing it from the count. Better tell your friends not to cheat. It will get you disqualified. 10.20.2002
Our own Liz Maryland (one of my favorite people in town these days), has been nominated for a Bloggy, in the design section!! She did a spectacular job on the Hat Show site, and I'm so pleased her talent is getting recognized. You can vote for her blog, House Arrest, HERE. Let's show the Bloggy people just how powerful online knitters are as a group! ;->
BTW, ButtaFly told me about these amazing knitted hats. Love them, and the ideas they portray. One quibble. It annoys the hell out of me when people call a knitted object "crocheted" or on this site "hand-woven". Come on! Have been resting, didn't knit anything last night, very hard to break the habit, but just played with the pets, who haven't gotten much attention lately, and went to sleep early. Ok, I passed the hell out! Got up at 6 and spent a long time walking in the park with my dog. it's a beautiful day today. The opening was incredible fun, Buttafly flew in from Alaska! Tabbetha, the Best of Show winner was here from Kansas City, (she's the Kansas City Kitty), Sonya, knitter of the popular "Untitled", was here, Alex, (Ms. Needle & Hook), popped up from Pittsburg. The elusive "Elanor", collaborator with TIllamook Cheddar on the Tillie "Beer Can" Hat came, and we finally met. Thanks to everyone who swung by to see the show, and made it a success! Hi Martha & Max. Hi Sam. Pix tonight... The internet is definitely a valuable communication tool, I've been corresponding with some very, very interesting people regarding some very interesting subjects. Better than tv, I assure you, and more satisfying in both the long and short run.. 10.19.2002
The 2002 Knit Hat Show site is live! Congratulations and thanks to all the participants! Your designs made the show. Huge thanks to Liz Maryland for building the Knit Hat Show website of my dreams, and Ranjit Bhatnager and John Szinger, for the acerbic goofiness! Thank you Jeannie, oh peanut gallery and Voice of Reason.
I have to get some sleep! 10.17.2002
It's VERY VERY HARD to not email the people who won prizes in the Knit Hat Show. I need to hold out for FEW MORE DAYS>>>
Paint dried with no mishaps. It's pretty. Working on the corresponding Knit Hat Show website with Liz, taking pix of everything, typing everyones Artist Statement, etc. It's very nice, Liz is rocking!! She knows how to calm frazzled nerves, too.;-> When this is done, I'm going to sleep for 24 hours straight in a rented hotel room. In front of my apt they're repaving the road, around the corner they're digging up pipe to replace, across the street at the ex-con body shop they're working on broken car alarms and downstairs they're installing a new bodega. Needless to say got up even earlier than usual. (!!!!) My neighborhood is noisy these days. Trying to be somewhat "Zen" about everything, it'll all just work out somehow, but still have to crank out the tasks. Knitting new hats inbetween tasks. Sounds absolutely mundane, but I picked up my clean laundry this am, $30. worth. Halleluya! It's the little things. ;-> Scent matters too! 10.16.2002
Thank you, Marilyn (and feel better soon) for this quote on your blog today:
"If everything is under control, you are going too slow." - Mario Andretti Oh yeah. Ain't that the truth. It was chilly, yet sunny yesterday morning, so I painted the door to the shop and the bench in front of it with 2 coats of dark magenta. Then it started to rain. How long does paint take to dry in the rain? SHit. ;-> (yes, I'm laughing at this point) This could be a magenta mess. It's STILL raining now and did all night, too. I pulled the bench inside before I left yesterday, so it should be ok, but the front door is wet, wet, wet, wet. Yes, I mean sticky and wet. *sigh* Going to try to pop down to Bridge street before I go in for some pale pink chiffon for new shop curtains. I feel a "girly" thing coming on. Dove grey, dark magenta, silver, pale pink and a black and white checkerboard floor. It'll be cheerful all winter. ...................................................... Just got into the shop: Wet Magenta Exterior Paint is no fun. Believe me. Bench is marginally "drier'" but not by much. 10.14.2002
Spent the am with the exterminator, and afterwards cleaning up after mouse "guests". Knitted another hat for the show and watched "Joe Dirt" on cable. I went to Jr. high and partially high school in Florida, and this was eeriely familiar territory. Oh man. They got that white trash thing totally down. There really are people just like that. It's not a joke.
Ate a chicken roti. Drank green tea. Put my fine gauge Singer knitting machine together. This machine is engineered badly, it's not as precise as a brother or passap, but it gets 9 st. to the inch, and I want to make some extra fine gauge things. It never bacame a favorite machine because of this, at that gauge repairing dropped stitches is a huge time sink, and drop them it does, but I'm going to give it another try. Trying to overcome laundry mental block, now REALLY don't have any clean clothes except dresses and summer clothes. Maybe if I drop off half of it, and do the other half of it, I can do it all? Slept on a feather bed last night. I like it! Thank you, you know who. 10.13.2002
Ok, I officially over-reacted. Spoke with my landlord this am, and found out that the new bodega guys are the Muslims from the bodega down the street, just moving into a better spot. I'm really actually happy about this, they're very soft-spoken, peaceful people, and I'm going to actually be safer with them downstairs. Balance has been re-achieved.
Spent a lovely evening with John Szinger, his great wife Jeannie, and Ranjit last night, looking at, trying on and "judging" the hats for the show. All is going according to plan. This is going to be alot of fun! We have a lovely collection, thanks to all who participated! Saw the 2 sisters of my kitten today, owned by Ian, the lawyer down the street, and was shocked to see how much bigger they are than Stretch is! I guess I got the runt of the litter. ;-> I still love her, though, even a bit more than before. 10.12.2002
Found out last night that the reason that my landlord is cleaning up the building I live in, for the first time in 8 months, is that he's rented the abandoned storefront downstairs to a sleazy bodega. Now, I live in a neighborhood where there are crack dealers around both corners 24 hours a day, and anyone who lives here knows they hang out at bodegas. No-one will rent to these types of stores, except obviously my landlord, who lives in Long Island. Dog and I just got menaced by evil preteens last week hanging out at the creepy bodega a block away. Now, I can look forward to that every time I walk the dog, or step out of my house. You ASSHOLE! Not to mention the house rodents are going to be very well fed.
This just give me more incentive to work 16 hour days to get the fuck out of here. I do like my apartment very much, but this is getting too much to deal with. Meeting Charlie this am to go to Canal street and get building materials for hat display. Gotta run. God Damn It. 10.11.2002
I just found my unbrella swift that's been missing for months, just in time to wind all the skeins that came in the other day. Saved myself about 4 hours right there, and probably the beginnings of ball-winding carpal tunnel.
I knit a very weird hat this am, starting with a doily pattern I found on the web, the "Egeblad". If the "Egeblad" mated with a "Newsboy", you'd get this hat. I just washed and blocked it, and it'll be in the Exhibit. My landlord is finally starting repairs on the building I live in, and I've maintained the weight loss that occurred when I moved out of "Hell House" 8 months ago. I've been letting my beautiful grey hair grow in and there's no-one around to tell me how ugly it is, so I feel great about it. I've always loved grey, especially when you do that lavender rinse thing. I'm at about maybe 35% grey, I want 100% pearly lavender silver grey! Guess I'll get it eventually. Treated myself to Mama Dukes barbeque ribs for dinner last night, (that's Puffy's mom, who's restaurant is right around the corner from my shop), and they were spectacular! I forget to eat, and frequently go to bed with no dinner, so every few days, I have to get a "meal". I guess things are ok, more than ok. I think when the stupid shit I've had to deal with clears away, underneath it I'm still a happy person, easily pleased. It's the small things. My kitten and dog are in love with each other, and me. I cut down drastically on my only vice, "wacky smokes". Getting too stupid. Never will quit, though. Wish they had "coffee shops" here like they do in Amsterdam. Would mellow out the whole city. 10.10.2002
The 2002 Knit Hat Show started to really come together today. Everyone who's helping me is brilliant. Other good things happened, and I'm starting to get excited.
Knitted a miniature hat for the Exhibit this afternoon on size 1s. It was fun. Today I had one of those great days that people think I have all the time. They've been a bit rare lately, but they do occur. Drinking hot green tea with milk and honey and eating toasted green tea sponge cake, both from Japan, presents from Miki. 10.09.2002
Had to run an errand in the East Village yesterday, and swung by the not very well known Magry Knits at 80 east 7th Street to say hi to Rene, the proprietess. I really can relate to her, although her shop is yarn and needles, she also does hand and machine one of a kinds, and has an all inclusive attitude, like me. Refreshing. Yarnwise, she stocks the very elusive Brown Sheep "Burley Spun", a one ply extra chunky soft wool that knits up at 2.5 st. per inch. I gave in and bought yarn retail. (shocking!) The wrapper calls for a size 13 needle, but I went much larger than that, using a US size 19. Don't think scarves should be knit tightly. It interferes with drape. Rene also told me she's holding knitting parties All Day, Every Saturday during the winter! With hot apple cider! If you need more info, give her a call at: 212-674-6753. Tell her Stacey sent you. ;-> She said no "bitching" though. Sorry.
Received a BALE of yarn skeins today from Bartlett Yarns in Maine. Lovely stuff with teeth, if you know what I mean. Not soft like cashmere or merino, but a real, old fashioned style wool. The colors are wonderful. They make an electric neon orange, Hunter Orange, that's impossible to get anywhere else. No getting hit by a truck or mistaken for a deer if you've got this color on! Cable patterns love this wool. Dull as Dishwater Twaddle: I just reread some of my posts, and I have to say, Merde! I complain alot, I think. But SHITSKY, the amount of weird problems this year, (now over a year) I've had to confront and force back is pretty overwhelming, by anyone's standards. I don't even post 95% of it. That would be excessively tiresome to read, not to mention privacy threatening. But it's still coming. I feel like a hockey goalie, fending off fast pucks aimed at my head. Now, theoretically, I know everything is a cycle, or arc, and I'm just waiting it out. I'll just keep waiting till it subsides. Today I just started to laugh. Spent the morning in court, won of course. Teary from fear this am. But then went in and did it. GodDamnnit. Laughed on the way out. In the words of the scary Joan Crawford "Don't fuck with me, fellas!". Unfortunately, I'm getting hard as nails, even harder than I thought possible. I have no choice, though. There's no reviving innocence. Ok, haven't really thought of my self as "innocent" for decades, but you know what I mean. It's getting to the point where I think I can handle anything, now with renewed aplomb. After the hat show, which preparation for is going quite well BTW, I don't want to do a GODDAMNED THING except work, run the tiny details of my life, and eat. NO MORE PROJECTS. NO MORE FUCKING PROJECTS. I want to have the luxury of contemplating my navel. There is a building across the street on the other side of the block, and a guy there has a tiny red wood and screen house on top of the building, which I can see quite well out my window, being in the top floor apartment. He keeps homing pigeons there, and on a seemingly random schedule, once a day lets them out to exercise, I guess. The patterns they make while flying in large circles and figure 8s are mesmerizing, and very calming. I love it when I'm home, and catch them out flying. Extraordinarily beautiful. Some drop out of the flock to do fancy manuevers on their own, then seamlessly rejoin the flock. I always heard of these guys who keep pigeons, and saw them on tv, but never in real life. It's very cool, and I love Brooklyn. For some strange reason, there are also many seagulls in my 'hood. 10.07.2002
Congratulations to Squib for finishing, in style, her run.walk for the Canadian Breast Cancer walk. I'm sitting here with tears running down my face, because I just saw on her blog that she wrote Wendy Wild's name on her bib, my friend and ex-bandmate who lost her life to breast cancer a few years ago. I dedicated my donation to Amy in loving memory of Wendy. Thank you *so very much*, Amy! I'm extremely proud of you and grateful to you for remembering her that way. I know she's watching us from heaven in glitter platforms, hot pants, way too much makeup and a microphone that's never turned off.
10.03.2002
Sending out acceptance notices today and tommorrow for the Hat Show, if you sent in an entry, and haven't heard back, you will either today or tommorrow. Thank You! If you don't hear from me, and you sent in an entry, let me know via email, and I'll keep an eye out, and you can track it if it's lost in the inbetween.
News: Fabulous chef Joseph Bocchino of Brooklyn will be whipping up a few tasty morsels for the opening on the 19th! DO drop by if you're in the neighborhood. Knitting: tops, dresses , a-line skirts in 7g cashmere and merino color mixes. Got pix, don't have time to optimize them. One day, probably after the show, will post all. Took a rush job last night, (with the associated rush fee ;->), made a HK cat hat and 7g pair of matching mitts for pick-up today early afternoon. Have to say, got a small thrill out of the deadline. Had to step up to the challenge. Must be something wrong with me. Like I need this now. Did it anyway. Celebrating later with Christies of Flatbush jerk chicken patties and an eskovitch fish for dinner. MMMMMMM I am so beyond being stressed out, that I don't even know what to call this. It's not all bad stress, but a very varied mixture. |
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